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In the upcoming week, Nigerians will be closely monitoring the verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) as it deliberates on the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

The potential impact of this judgment on Nigeria’s political landscape and its democratic foundation is a subject of considerable concern. The 2023 election petition has garnered remarkable attention, especially on social media platforms, rendering it one of the most closely followed cases in the country’s history.

Having presented their respective arguments, all parties involved have now left the decision in the hands of the court, presided over by Justice Haruna Tsammani.

“The judgment from the Presidential Election Petition Court could either mark a historic moment or lead to disappointment,” stated Emmanuel Ogebe, a human rights attorney based in the United States.

Abubakar Atiku and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with Peter Obi and the Labour Party, are contesting the results of the February 25 presidential election before the PEPC.

On August 1, the involved parties were instructed by the five-member panel of justices, headed by Tsammani, to present their final arguments, setting the stage for the forthcoming judgment.

This phase, known as the pre-judgment phase or final arguments, involves consolidating all the presented points into a single document. In this particular instance, as required by the panel, this document spanned forty pages.

The final arguments offer the legal representatives an opportunity to succinctly emphasize their key points. The ambiance surrounding the Court of Appeal premises, where the PEPC is situated, underwent a noticeable transformation on the day of the final arguments’ presentation.

Atiku, who had previously only appeared during the opening session on March 8, was present this time. Meanwhile, Obi, who has consistently attended the proceedings since day one, had a notable addition to his supporters on this day — acclaimed author Chimamanda Adichie was among those accompanying Obi to court. Their objective is to challenge Tinubu’s victory in the election.

During the proceedings, Justice Tsammani allotted 20 minutes to each counsel for the final adoption of their arguments. It’s worth highlighting that the court followed a pattern of rotating the appearances of each petitioner, alternating between morning and afternoon sessions on a weekly basis.

On the day of the closing arguments, Atiku and the PDP were scheduled for the morning session. The three respondents – the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), President Bola Tinubu, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) – took turns to present their comprehensive 40-page final arguments.

Abubakar Mahmoud, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) representing INEC, advocated for the dismissal of the petition, asserting its lack of merit. He contended that the presidential election had been conducted in substantial conformity with all applicable laws.

Wole Olanipekun, SAN, who represented Tinubu, similarly urged the court to reject the petition, emphasizing its absence of merit and substance. Olanipekun pointed out that the petitioners hadn’t provided credible evidence to support their case before the court, underscoring that the court couldn’t grant something that hadn’t been properly requested.